After last week’s findings that 56 percent of American Jews would back a U.S military strike on Iran, a new poll has been released that shows an even larger percentage of Americans as a whole would support military action to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons (although it should be noted that the questions were asked in different ways).
A survey released Tuesday by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press found 61 percent of those surveyed believef it is "more important" to "prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, even if it means taking military action," while just "avoid military conflict, even if Iran may develop nuclear weapons," 61 percent chose the first option. That included majorities of both political parties — 71 percent of Republicans and 51 percent of Democrats — as well as 66 percent of independents. Just 24 percent chose the second option.
The nationwide survey of 1,500 adults on both landline telephones and cell phones, taken from Sept. 30-Oct. 4, has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent.
Majorities also were in favor of both direct negotiations with Iran and tougher sanctions, although they were not optimistic that either would work. Sixty-three percent said they would support direct negotiations but only 22 percent thought they would be effective, while 78 percent favored sanctions but just 32 percent thought they would be successful. Partisan differences on both those questions are minimal.
The full results can be seen here.
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